Some Knox alumni who returned for 2013 Homecoming got a special treat: an up-close look inside Alumni Hall and a chance to ask experts about its renovation. Representatives of P.J. Hoerr Inc., the project’s general contractor, and Holabird & Root, the architectural firm, led the alumni tours.

Walking through the now-empty building stirred up memories for alumni, including these two members of the Class of 1963, who celebrated their 50th Reunion.

Linda Gist

“When we came here in ’59, that was the entrance to the Gizmo,” she said, pointing to a door on the lowest level. “The Gizmo was in the ground floor of Alumni Hall, and then they built the extension onto Seymour Hall and moved the Gizmo -– our sophomore year, I think.”

The Alumni Hall Gizmo, she added, “was tiny, and it was loud. They just served coffee and tea and snacks. Just a few tables. People stood up all the time. And apparently, we loved it.”

Craig Wanggaard

“I was a political science major, so I was either in Old Main or this building. This building, in the ’60s, was the core of the school. The ’50s and ’60s. It was a grand old building in its time.”

“They’re doing a superb job. I’m really excited” about the renovation. “That’s why our class contributed $1.8 million just for the [Class of 1963 Office of] Financial Aid -– because if it weren’t for financial aid, most of us wouldn’t be here. That’s an important part of what Knox means to our class.”

Knox College students Laura Pochodylo ’14 and Kayleigh O’Brien ’16 share some of the history of Alumni Hall as they lead a group of Knox students through the building. Check out the story and photos in The Knox Student!

To kick off the transformation of Alumni Hall, we are hosting a contest! The prize? A tour of Alumni Hall before the makeover! This contest will be online only and hosted on our social media sites. To enter, either retweet the @knoxcollege1837 tweet about the contest or write a comment on Knox College’s Facebook post about it by Saturday October 5th. There will be six winners, three from each site, with the tour at 3:30 p.m. on October 8. This contest is for current students, friends of the College, and any alumni willing to make a trip back to their alma mater. Those selected will receive emails on Sunday the 6th and they must respond to them within 24 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good luck!